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Awake early this morning 06.00 although it is not early for me as I am normally at work by this time so you could say it is a bit of a lie in! Unusually we had not had any trouble sleeping the night before. In the past we have been waking up every hour on the hour but not this time. We throw a few last things in the cases (the case which have been out and slowly packed for the last 3 months). Now we made a big decision right from the start to travel light or lighter than normal this time and bought smaller cases for that reason so we are very pleased when come out at 17 and 18 kilos. We pack the overnight bags for the airport hotel which is a change this year as it has always been the Hilton for us in the past but after twice being given the most filthy worn out room on the past two trips we decided that was it so we were going to use the Sofitel. However I saw the offer on TV for the Premier inn and decided to book a £29.00 room it's only one night after all. anyway it's time to take the cats to the cattery which opens at 9.00am its a 20 mile round trip but it is such a nice place it's worth it. That done we call back home pick up the cases and we are off by 10.30am. We pick my DM up on route she lives 15 mins away so just after 10.45am we are off proper and after an uneventful 2hr and 10 minute trip we are pulling into Gatwick airport short stay multi story car park. 10 minutes later we are twilight checking in using the self check in machines which takes all of 2 minutes each then over to bag drop. So 25 minutes after pulling into the car park we are all checked in bags are dropped and we are sat drinking a Starbucks in the terminal not quite believing how quick and easy it was. We have a quick look around the terminal (not much there anymore) and decide that even though we can't check in to the Premier inn till 3.00 pm and it is now only 1.50 pm we should go on over and see if we can get in early.[/font]Luckily they are ready and we go straight up and I have to say we are very pleasantly surprised with the rooms first of all security is good as there is no way to get to the rooms from the lobby using the lift or the stairs without your key. Then the rooms are spotlessly clean with individually controlled air conditioning a flat screen HD TV with loads of channels,and a really comfy bed also tea an coffee making facilities (there is also unlimited free tea and coffee in the lobby going all the time).Oh the third pillow is DW Twilight book that has to go every where with her. sighShower gel and liquid hand soap in the bathroom which has a nice heated towel rail.There is also a sofa bed in the room and a trundle bed under the main bed so this room could sleep 2 adults and 3 children at £29.00 that aint bad IMHO. We have a rest in the room and arrange to meet my DM in the hotel restaurant at 6.45pm as we have a table booked for 7.00pm.
[font="Comic Sans MS"]The food and service there is very good and very reasonably priced my DW and I had the mixed Chinese sharing platter to start DM had no starter then DW had the rack of ribs with french fries and mixed veg DM had the haddock and chips with peas and I had the chicken wrapped in bacon with melted cheese and smothered in BBQ sauce with french fries and mixed veg. None of us had dessert because we were too full. We chatted for a while then off to bed we have the V-room at 10.00am so no need to leave the hotel till 8.45am
Day one DONE